Zdeno Chara retires from hockey after 25 seasons, signing a one-day contract with the Boston Bruins

Zdeno Chara, the tallest participant in NHL historical past, the oldest participant in the league, and a 2011 Stanley Cup champion, has formally introduced his retirement from enjoying.

Chara signed a one-day contract with the Boston Bruins on Tuesday in order that he might retire with the membership he spent the bulk of his profession with.

He was the Bruins captain from 2006 till 2020, when he signed with the Washington Capitals in free company. 

Chara received the Norris Trophy as the league’s prime defenseman in 2009 and made 5 of his six All-Star appearances carrying the spoked B.

During his time in Boston, Chara went to the Stanley Cup playoffs 10 instances. He led the group to 3 Stanley Cup Finals, successful the 2011 cup in seven video games over the Vancouver Canucks.

After 25 seasons in the National Hockey League, Zdeno Chara has introduced his retirement

Chara spent most of his time in Boston, successful the Stanley Cup as the Bruins’ captain in 2011

Chara signed a 1-day contract with the Bruins, retiring with the group he spent 14 seasons with

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‘After 25 seasons {of professional} hockey 1,680 NHL common season video games, 200 Stanley Cup Playoff video games, and a whole bunch of worldwide video games I’m proud to announce my determination to retire from the National Hockey League,’ Chara posted on Instagram.

‘In doing so, I’m honored to return to TD Garden right this moment to signal a one-day contract with the Boston Bruins and formally end my profession with the group that has meant a lot to me and my household. 

‘There are so many individuals which have helped contribute to my success, together with all of you, and I look ahead to correctly thanking everybody this afternoon. Thank you, Big Zee.’

In his retirement speech, Chara thanked coaches, scouts from the previous, the 4 groups he performed for, the Boston media, his household, and plenty of others.

‘When I began enjoying hockey, I might by no means have imagined being a part of the NHL or being a part of the Boston Bruins group and successful the Stanley Cup or incomes [the] Norris Trophy or the Mark Messier Award. Or even having the privilege of seeing my identify subsequent to many NHL information.

‘I do know I can stroll away from the recreation with gratitude, honor and delight… I’m not strolling fully away from the recreation, however now it is time I stroll alongside my household. My household and I are proud to name Boston our residence. It’s the group and metropolis we maintain near our coronary heart.’

Quite a lot of Bruins leaders commented on Chara’s retirement.

‘He was a nice mentor, a nice particular person, a nice pal. I’m grateful for his friendship and every thing he meant to the Boston Bruins group,’ former teammate and present captain Patrice Bergeron instructed the media.

‘I might discover it arduous to consider he is not going to be [in the Hockey Hall of Fame],’ stated group president and Hockey Hall of Famer Cam Neely.

Speaking on any future involvement with the group, Neely stated, ‘Having Zdeno round in any capability could be a big increase to the franchise.’ 

Neely additionally stated Chara is the final particular person to put on the quantity 33 for the Bruins, pledging that his identify would quickly be in the hallowed rafters of TD Garden. 

Chara, seen right here in 2007, signed with the Bruins in free company in the 2006 season. He was given the ‘C’ and was named group captain instantly after signing.

All of his former groups supplied congratulations on social media. The Ottawa Senators posted a thanks, saying, ‘Congratulations on a tremendous profession, and thanks in your time with the #Sens!’

Washington, the group he spent the least period of time with, posted, ‘It was a pleasure and an honor to have you ever in the District and be a a part of your unbelievable profession. Best of luck in retirement, Big Zee!’

The Islanders – the group he final took the ice with and the one which drafted him – stated, ‘Thank you for every thing you might have finished in blue and orange. There will solely be one ‘Big Zee.’ ‘

Known extra for his capability to maintain the puck out of the internet than placing it in, Chara nonetheless scored 237 objectives and added 523 assists for 750 factors in 1,880 regular-season and playoff video games.

His 1,680 regular-season video games performed is a file for defenseman. He is a candidate for the Hockey Hall of Fame primarily based not solely on his consistency but in addition his stature in the recreation from Slovakia to North America.

Chara additionally holds information for the most Game 7 playoff appearances in NHL historical past, in addition to proudly owning information for being the tallest particular person in league historical past and having the hardest shot in league historical past.

Chara was the second European captain to win the Cup, following Swede Nicklas Lidstrom with Detroit. 

Chara signed his remaining enjoying contract with the New York Islanders, the group that drafted him

Chara was drafted by the Islanders in the third spherical in 1996, enjoying his first 4 seasons on Long Island earlier than getting traded to the Senators. 

Boston signing him in 2006 stays one in every of the most impactful free company signings in the 17 years of the NHL’s wage cap period. He stuffed a emptiness at captain that was left after the Bruins traded Joe Thornton to the San Jose Sharks in the 2004-05 season.

Chara first reached the Stanley Cup remaining with the group in 2011, after their first spherical sequence with the Montreal Canadiens and the Eastern Conference Final towards the Tampa Bay Lightning each went to seven video games.

The Cup Final towards the Canucks proved a good harder job, with Vancouver having received the President’s Trophy as the league’s greatest common season group that 12 months. A Game 7 win by the Bruins noticed Chara raise the cup for the first and solely time. That win gave Boston its first Stanley Cup since 1972, their first in 39 years. 

After 4 arduous fought sequence, Chara helped lead Boston to its first Stanley Cup in 39 years

2013 noticed the Bruins attain the remaining but once more, dealing with the Chicago Blackhawks. Chara scored one purpose and three assists throughout that sequence with Boston falling to the Blackhawks in six video games.

The 2019 Stanley Cup Final was the final time the Bruins performed for arguably the hardest trophy to win in North American sports activities. They performed the St. Louis Blues in a rematch of the 1970 Stanley Cup Final – one the place Boston was victorious and received their third cup.

Chara suffered a damaged jaw in Game Four of the Cup remaining, however inside 72 hours, he had wires in his mouth and a full face defend on his helmet, a heroic instance of management in the sport.

‘I went to go go to him after he broke his jaw in the playoffs in ’19 at the hospital, and he is telling me he is enjoying Game 5…to me, that simply confirmed every thing about Zdeno – not solely the toughness, however the dedication,’ Neely recalled. 

Despite breaking his jaw in the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals, Chara performed the remainder of the sequence

The Bruins misplaced that sequence on residence ice to the Blues in Game 7. In the post-expansion period, Boston has by no means received the Stanley Cup after they have home-ice benefit.

Following the COVID shortened 2019-20 season, Bruins GM Don Sweeney didn’t promise a full-time function for Chara and he left in free company for the Washington Capitals. Coincidentally, the Capitals performed the Bruins in the first-round of the playoffs – with Boston successful in 5 video games.

He joined his authentic group – the Islanders – for the 2021-22 season, scoring in his remaining recreation on April twenty ninth, 2022 towards the Lightning.

He performed his remaining recreation in 2022 with the Islanders – scoring his final purpose of his profession